The Clinical Training Program

Requirements

Students are required to complete a curriculum that typically consists of four to five years of full-time academic course work, research, and clinical training in residence at the University of Vermont, followed by the completion of a mandatory year-long internship at an American Psychological Association (APA) accredited site. Most commonly, our students complete five full-time academic years of graduate training in residence at the University of Vermont, apply for internships in the fifth year, and go on internship during the sixth year. Therefore, the typical time to degree completion is six years. Students who enter with a Master’s degree in psychology may complete the degree requirements in five years, including four full-time academic years of graduate training in residence at the University of Vermont, followed by internship in the fifth year. A successful dissertation proposal defense by October 15th is required to be eligible to submit internship applications in a given academic year. We recommend that students complete all program requirements (except for internship) before they leave campus for the internship year. At a minimum, our Program requires that students have completed all requirements (except for the dissertation) before beginning internship. All program requirements, including the internship, are satisfactorily completed prior to awarding the doctoral degree. Most commonly, our students have their degrees conferred in October following the completion of their internship, assuming the dissertation has been defended and submitted in final form to the Graduate College.

American Psychological Association (APA) Requirements

The course work of clinical students is largely determined by the American Psychological Association's requirements for accrediting Clinical programs. There is some flexibility, however, and the selection of "electives" is decided by students with advice and guidance from their advisors.

Course Work

All graduate students must have at least 78 hours of course credit for completion of their doctoral degree (see Model Ph.D. Program Schedule).

Students can use the Record of Courses and Requirements to track their progress through the program:

Teaching

All clinical graduate students gain teaching experience through presentations in graduate courses, mentoring junior graduate students on their clinical practicum team and research team, and completing at least three of six additional teaching experiences (see Doctoral Comprehensive Portfolio (pdf)).

Research Requirements

All students are involved in research during all years that they are enrolled in the program. The Doctoral Comprehensive Portfolio (pdf) presents the minimum research requirements: students are strongly encouraged to exceed these minimum requirements.

During years one and two all clinical students initiate and complete a second-year Research Project. This is equivalent to a Masters thesis project. It is expected that, if appropriate, the article will be submitted for publication.

In addition, students are required to complete a research-based dissertation. The dissertation proposal is written and proposed to a doctoral committee; the data-based study is conducted, analyzed, written, and finally defended in front of this committee.

Preliminary Examination

The preliminary examination in Clinical Psychology is fulfilled by the successful completion, at a passing level, of a research project, including a final oral and written defense. This is the Second-Year Research Project.